Employment by a landholder of persons who are armed.

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 3 but subject to the provisions of section 5, a landholder may employ for the purpose of protection of his land or crop not more than two persons who are armed : Provided that where a gram panchayat or a nagar panchayat is satisfied that having regard to the extent of land or crop within its jurisdiction employment of more than two persons who are armed is necessary, the panchayat may employ more than two such persons but not more than such number of such persons as may be prescribed.